Canada women blank Guyana 5-0 to open Olympic qualifying

HOUSTON (AP) Ashley Lawrence scored two of his three goal in a minute span in the second half, and Canada routed Guyana 5-0 on Thursday night to open the group

HOUSTON (AP) Ashley Lawrence scored two of his three goal in a minute span in the second half, and Canada routed Guyana 5-0 on Thursday night to open the group stage of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

Lawrence scored in the 29th minute, then added two more in the 47th and 48th for the Canadians, who are seeking one of the two Olympic spots up for grabs in the North and Central America and Caribbean region. The eight-team tournament runs through Feb 1.

Sixteen-year-old Deanne Rose scored off a corner kick in the 25th minute, her first goal for the national team, then added a second in the 40th minute.

Lawrence, a 20-year-old who plays for West Virginia, was named player of the match.

Canada is one of the favorites in the tournament, playing in a group that includes Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala.